Melting and dispensing apparatus



July 21, 1953v A. w. wlcKEsBERG 2,646,189

MELTING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed April 11 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l .Ylllllllll/ ZU INVENTOR.

l' BY i MJ/7 444W( d.

:flip/'nay July 21, 1953 A. w. w|cKEsBERG 2,646,189

MELTING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed April l1 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 O; o o 55 Y i E I O Ilo 1- yl 55 (45 45 i l) 50 JLI d I 45 INVENTOR.

. Patented .uly 2l,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MELTING ANDiiIsPENsN'G APPARATUS Alfred W. Wickesberg, ivulwakee, Wis.- Application April 11, 1949, Serial-N0. 86,711 claims. (o1. l222-36)4 Y ,1 Y n This invention relates to dispensing apparatus adapted to deliverV measured quantities of iicwable material, including fluid formed from melt-V able solids, and itresides more particularly ina novel and improved-form of such apparatus f capable of melting solids to a fluid state and of de' livering and recording the delivery of predetermined quantities of such fluid, the apparatus being readily accessible to permit full sanitary cleansing thus rendering the apparatus suitable for the dispensing of molten edible fats such as butter.

' An object of this invention is toprovide an v apparatus which will melt, and holdV molten. without undesirable segregation a supply of Y butter or other edible meltable material, which cuit employed in the apparatus shown in the is to beV dispensed in smaller quantities from time Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus which will positively dispense fluid in predetermined quantity not subject to variation by the operator.

Another object of this inventionis to provide a positive fluid dispensing apparatus all parts of which, irl-contact with the fluid, can be subjected to cleansing for sanitaryV purposes.

Another object of this invention is to provid an apparatus suitable for melting and dispensing butter in molten form to facilitate the retailingof buttered popcorn, which will ensure thecustomer of full andvr accurate measure, which will other gures. f u v The form of theapparatus of this invention shown in the drawings as appears more clearly in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is provided with a main supporting housing l closed at the front by an opv erating panel 2. Within the housing l and sdecured thereto in horizontal position is a supportd Ying shelf 3 `which provides support for a melting assembly,described hereinafter in greater detail. y

Centrally mounted in the` shelf 3 with its axis vertically disposed' is a vbearing 4 Within which is rotatably `mounted a shaft which is secured to aV melting bowl supporting spider` 5. As appears more lclearly in Fig. 1 the spider 5 is made up of three arms'equally spaced angularly with respect Vto the shaft. Thershaftwhich is secured to the spider 5 extends downwardly through tlfivefbearing 4 and theshelf 3 to a coupling 6. Mounted beneath the shelf asy shown in Fig. 3 is a melt'- ing bowl driving -motor 'l having reductiongear 8 and an upwardly facing output shaft 9l which is drivingly connected to the coupling 6. When Y Ving materialv i4 to conserve the heat emitted by of this invention will be made to appear in the reference made to the raccompanying drawings, formingV a part hereof, and -in which there is shown by way of illustration and not of.. limitation one form in which the apparatus of-fthisinvention may be embodied. In the drawingszi 4 f' n Fig. l is a top plan View with parts broken away and. in section of one form of the appa ratus of this invention shown with the cover re-l moved;

Fig. 2 is a front view in elevation with parts broken away and in sectionV of the apparatus ap` Fig. 4. is a detailed view in rear elevation and e Vdescription following', which is set lforth with the*` heater i2. Located within the 'housing ladjacent to pan i3 is a thermostatic electric switch i5 so located as to respondto the Aenvironmental temperature ofy housing i and to heat radiated bythepanl3. i

l Extendinglaterally from the housing i near the top of the same are' pump supporting shelves l and il. The shelves It and 'il are rigidly attached to the housing' i and arer/e-enforc'ed by a continuous Vertical flangeV i8 surrounding the shelves l5 and HandVthe housing has shown.

" The top of the housng i and the shelves l and il" are closed by a recessed cover i secured in place by hinges one of whichdesignated by the nu- -zneral 2i! appears in/Fg. 3. A handle 2 l' attached to the cover I9' assistsin raising the cover when access to the interior is desired. yMounted upon shelf'll" is a dispensing pump driving-motor 22 having a combined output reduction gear and timer mechanism 23 secured thereto. A Hojecting Y laterally from the reduction gear 23 is an output shaft having a slotted driving coupling mounted thereon. Also secured to the reduction gear 23 and extending in the direction of the output shaft is a pair of inwardly facing mounting lugs 2k3- 25. Beneath the lugs 25-25 projecting from the reduction gear 23 is a pump supporting arm 26. Detachably held in place by the lugs 25-25 and the supporting arm 26 is a dispensing pump designated generally by the numeral 2'. having a pump body 23 provided with vertical slots or mounting ways 29-29 arranged to slidingly engage the inner ends of the lugs 2li-25. The dispensing pump is provided with an input shaft having a flattened end 3B arranged to be received within the slot in coupling 24 when the latter is oriented in vertical position. The pump body 28 ofthe dispensing pump and its associated parts may be lowered into the position shown in the drawings and thus brought into driven relationship with the motor 22.. Whenever desired the dispensing pump 2l may be removed by simply raising it after first vertically orienting the slot in coupling 24.

Pump 2l may be ci the positive displacement type but any pump, preferably of the rotary type may be employed, the form thereof shown in the drawing being of the well known internal, eX- ternal gear type. As appears. in greater detail in Fig. 4 the pump body 28 contains an axially disposed cylindrical chamber within which there is rotatably mounted in close iitting relationship an internal gear 3i secured to the pump input shaft. The cylindrical chamber within the pump body Ziivis closed by a head 32 from which there projects inwardly an internal pinion journal pin 33 and a crescent shaped space occupying member 34. Mountedfor rotation upon the journal pin 33 is an external pinion 35 which completes the pump assembly. Head 32 is quickly detachable and is held in place by nut 35i carried on swing bolt e? mounted in turn upon the bail 38. v

The entire pump 21 may be completely disassembled without resort to tools by simply packing oli the nut 35 and removing the head 32. Pinion Se separates readily from the head assembly and the pump input shaft and the gear 3i which are preferably formed integral may be withdrawn from the pump body 28.

The pump 2l as appears in'greater detail in Fig. l is provided with an inlet opening 39 surrounded by an inwardly tapering boss 4i?. Mounted in closely fitting engagement with the boss lil is a curved suction pipe d! which extends to a point close to the bottom of pan i3. Secured to the lower end of suction pipe 4l is an agitating blade 42 which is spaced but ashort distance from the bottom of the pan i3.

Also shown more clearly in Fig. 4, pump 2l is provided with a discharge opening 43 which is joined by a solenoid valve assembly generally designated 44. The solenoidV valve assembly 4liis made up of a non-magnetic body of cylindrical form closed at its lower end by a removable Valve seat tt having a centrally disposed discharged opening Ael?. Mounted for vertical sliding movement within the body 45 is a combined magnetic armature and Valve stem 43. The armature 4S is grooved vertically as at 49 to allow free vertical passage of fluid. Mounted at the upper end of the valve body 45 and surrounding the same is a toroidal electrical winding 5%. When the winding 5B is energized armature 48 with its associated valve stem is magnetically raised thus opening the discharge passage 47. Upon de-energization of winding 5S armature 48 and its associated valve stem drop closing discharge opening 41.

On the left hand side of the apparatus mounted upon shelf I5 is a motor 5l reduction gear and timing mechanism 52 pump 53 suction pipe 54 and discharge valve 55 corresponding in all respects to the motor 22 reduction gear and timing mechanism 23 pump 21 suction pipe 42 and discharge valve lili.'Y The lower end of suction pipe 54 however is not provided with a baffle blade such as would corresponding with blade 42 since a single blade of this nature is suflicient for the purposes required.

While the apparatus above described is adapted for dispensing heated fluids of various sorts the specific useY for which the same is well adapted is the supplying of melted butter in connection with the retail sale rof popcorn. For this purpose an electrical control circuit not shown in Figs, l-Ll inclusive but displayed in detail in Fig.

45 is employed to provide for the melting and dispensing of butter in measured quantities.

In the control circuit shown in Fig. 5 electric power supply leads 5t and 51 are connected through switch 53 first to pilot lamp 59 which advises that the circuit is energized. Connected permanently to lead 5t by lead lill and thermostat' l5 is the heater element l2 which is joined .in turn by lead t! with lead 5l'. In similar fashion pan rotating motor i is joined by leads $2 and 53 with leads 53 and 5l respectively. Upon closure oi switch 58 pan i3 is caused to rotate while heat is supplied thereto by the heater I2 under the regulation of thermostat I5. The operator may then raise the lid i9 and place in the pan i3 butter or other solids to be melted. As operation continues pan I3 rotating the contents thereof against the baffle 42 quickly reduces the solid contained to molten form at the same time gently stirring the resulting duid to deter segregation of its constituents. Y

In order to cause liquid to be withdrawn from the pan i3 and to be dispensed through the right hand valve 44 a push button til is provided, Push button 54 serves when closed to complete a circuit extending from lead 56 and. lead 65 through lead Ei and lead 57i to the winding 58 of the magnetic contactor switch designated generally 69. Winding 68 is connected in turn through lead l@ timer controlled contacts 'Il and lead 'i2 back to power supply lead 5l. Winding 68 being thus energized causes switch 5S to close closing contacts 13. The closing of contactsl establishes a circuit extending from lead 56 through lead 'i4 and lead 'i5 to motor 22. Motor 22 is joined in turn by means of lead 'It to power lead 5l. In this way motor 22 .is energized causing pump 21 to draw fluid from the pan iSand discharge the same through valve 44. In order to permit such discharge to take place valve winding 5t is joined by means Vof leads il, i8 and 'I9 in shunt relationship to the motor 22 so aS to be energized simultaneously therewith.

Closure oi" .Switch E9 simultaneously causes maintaining' contacts 8U to be closed which fthrough lead T4 and lead 8! act to provide a maintaining circuit for the winding 33 when the operator releases the push button 64. This causes themotor 22 the pump 2T and the valve 44 to continue in operation. For the purpose of causing termination of the running period of the motor 22 at the end of a predetermined interval timing mechanism is provided.

fend-sea within 'the jreducunny gear and timing 'mechanism i?.` and not otherwise shown tnanin Fig. vis a. timing menanisnijnr weil known `form comprising a meter s2 which is joined by the lead as and the lead te 'with push .button 6-4. Upon closure ofthe push button 64 there 'is established aeaegiso pensi'ng' ciY edible products completeY sanitary maintenance is necessary. As explained above pumps 21 and 53' mayV be completely disassembled for cleansing. At the same time suction pipes 4| and 54 may be quickly removed and valves 44 vand 55 may be completely disassembled.

'tained vsupply (if Clllreht'tthe motor 82 Awhich ing of contact 1| interrupts control current in 4coil |58v 'causing switch 8e to drop open. This immediately closes the valivevtaand terminates the running lof motor 22. Motor 82 however 'continues to run by reason o'f power supplied lthereto lf'romleaid 5:6 through lead 9| contact im Y A lead 9'! and lead 93 and by reason of the return eonnection extending from motor `82 through lead liacontac't v|35 Vcontact 89 lead 95 and lead l2 which joins withsuppl'y leadr 51. Motor 8'2 Ythus lcontinues to run until cam 68 attains the position shown in Fig. 5 wh'ereupon'contacts 89 and @il vopen to terminate the running of motor 82. At the same time cam 81 is brought to the position shown in Fig. `5 thus preparing the circuit for the performance of a new cycle. h In order to prevent repeated cycling of the circuit dueto accidental or Ydeliberate jamming of button 64 in.. closed positionl the normally closed contact 95 is provided. Contact 95 is magnetieauy vmuelles 'by the winding '91 which' terminate running of motor "232 but will interrupt the onlyrreturn path provided for Winding SS and hence will render impossible further vrunning of motor 82 intendedfto run to th'eftermination of `a complete cycle by' the action of limit contacts 89 and ql.v This action occurs by reason of acircuit established from lead 5S through lead 65 button 64 lead 65 lead 83 lead 93' lead 98 winding 97 lead 599 lead'96 'and lead 12 which joins with 'supply lea'd "51. In this 'way the timing cycle is brought to a stop and cannot be reinitiated unless the button 64 is iirst released. The interruption interposed in this fashion-prevents the operator vfrom producing unattended repeated .discharges by jamming the Vbutton 54 with -a pin or sliver in continuously depressed position.'V T l For the purpose of recording the mim-bery of individual quantities of fluids dispensedth'ere is placed in shunt relationship with motor -22 va counter I-Giconnected as shown. The cou-nter 1|-0vis preferably mounted in the panel l2 in an v easilyobserved position and may be of well known :form such yas to V'iespdnd to the electrical im-pulse trolled rby an 'identical circuit including a-push button switch T0'2 vand 'timer mechanismr generally designated |153. Act-ing'in conjunction with the motor 5| is a counter |94 corres-pondl ingwith the counter |00.

Since an object o'r'this invention is the vdis- "f5 These parts together-"with the pan- I3 and all of the pumpparts can be immersed in sterilizing baths` Without harm.v Since these parts are the only parts". which come into contact with the vmaterial to be dispensed `completesanitary mainf tenanceis rendered convenient and practical.

rparts except for a small portion ofthe dispensing valves themselves are al1 housed within a heated enclosure and thus maintained above the melting .point of the material being dispensed. The small portions of the discharge valves 44 and 55 which extend from the heated housing are however effectively maintained .at a safe temperature by conduction from the comparatively massive parts of the pump. To add to the convenience in dispensing, small shelves Y|05 and |06 may be attached to the housing as shown.

1. In 'a dispensing apparatus for meltable 'solids the combination comprising a heat retain'- ing housing comprising a bottom surrounded by vertically extending walls, .an overhanging shelf extending laterallyffrom saidverti'cal walls at one side thereof near theftop vthereof and a removable cover extending across'and covering the upperopening of said vertical walls and said laterally extending shelf; heating means on the bottom of said housing; a removable melting pan within said housing above said heating means; and uid discharging means including pump means mounted on said laterally extending shelf, an inlet pipe extending therefrom into said melting pan, and a discharge condutextending froml said pump downwardly through said laterally extending shelf to the exterior of said housing, said inlet pipe, pump and a substantial portion of said Ydischarge conduit being included` Within said housing and exposed to heat admitted by said heating means to .prevent solidication of meltable solids contained therein.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 which the pan is mounted for rotation about la vertical axis and in which there is included drivingy .means drivinglyconnected to said pan torotate the same.

3.',An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the pan isfmounted for rotation about a vverticalraxis and in which there is included driving means drivingly connected to said panto rotate the same and in which stationary stirring balle means are mounted `within said pan close to the interior surface thereof.

4. An apparatus in vaccordance with claim 1 in which the p-an is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and in which there is included 'driving means drivingly connected to'said pan to rotate the same Vand in which a stationary stirring baille vis mounted on' the inlet pipe within said pan close to the interior surface thereof.

5. In a dispensing apparatus for edible, meltable material the combination comprising a heat retaining housinghavingan overhanging lateral extension in the upper part thereof, a Iheating Asource-f'for maintaining the interior of `said housing at a temperature above the melting point of wie Lthe material to be dispensed, a melting vessel in said housing for holding the material to be dispensed, delivery means for transferring the melted material from said vessel to the exterior of said housing including a pump detachably mounted on the lateral extension of said housing adjacent said vessel, an inlet pipe carried by said pump extending into said vessel, and a discharge conduit extending from said pump downwardly to the exterior of said housing, an electro-magnetically actuated valve in said discharge conduit, and an electric supply circuit connected to said motor-and to said valve to cause simultaneous driving of said motorand opening of said valve.

6. An apparatus in `accordance with claim 5 in which said v electrical circuit includes timing means operative to discontinue runningof said motor andv simultaneously to cause closure of said valve at the Vend of a predetermined interval. 7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5 in which said electrical circuit includes timing means-,operative to discontinue running of said motor and simultaneously to cause closure of said valve at the end of a predetermined interval and an electrically actuated recording counter connected to execute an integer change each time running of said motor takes place. Y

8. 1n a dispensing apparatus for-edible, meltable material the combination comprising a heat retaining housing, a heat source for maintaining the temperature of the interior of said housing above the melting point of the material to be dispensed, a vessel in said housing for holding material tobe'dispensed, delivery means in said housing for transferring the material from said vessel to the exterior of said housing including a pump detachably mounted adjacent said vessel, an inlet pipe'carried by said pump extending to a point Within' said vessel, a discharge conduit extending frornsaid pump to the exterior of said housing, iiuid restricting means disposed in said discharge conduit adapted to restrict ilow there.- through when said pump is stopped, an electric motor drivingly` connected to said pump, and an electric supply circuit for said motor including a power source normally electromagnetically actuated switch connecting said source to said motor, a control circuit including a starting button for closing said switch, auxiliary contacts on said switch connected to said source to provide a maintaining circuit to hold said switch closed after said starting button is released, a timer switch motor having a predetermined cycle of operation vrendered operative by closure of `said starter button, contacts in said switch maintaining circuit opened after a predetermined interval by said timer switch motor to cause opening of said maintaining circuit of said electromagnetically actuated switch and to renderV said starting button inoperative to re-close the same prior to `completion of said timer switch motor cycle, a cycle completing circuit for saidtimer motorrrendered active to complete the cycle of operation of said timermotor upon opening of said electromagnetically actuated switch, and a cycle stopping circuit rendered operative to pre'- vent completion of said timer motor cycle upon closure lof said starting button at any time after said electromagnetically actuated switch has opened prior to completion of said timer motor cycle. v

9. 1n a dispensing apparatus for edible, meltable material the combination comprising a heat retaining housing vhaving an overhanging lateral extension in the upper part thereof, a heating source for maintaining the interior of said housing at a temperature above the melting point of the material to be dispensed, a melting vessel in said housing for holding the material to be dispensed, delivery means for Vtransferring the melted material from said vessel to the exterior of said housing including a pump detachably mounted on the lateral extension of said housing adjacent said vessel, an inlet pipe carried by said pump extending into said Vessel, and a discharge conduit extending from said pump down- Wardlyto theexterior of said housing, an electric motor drivingly connected to said pump, and valve means in said discharge conduit opened in response to power delivered to said motor.

10. In a dispensing apparatus for edible, meltable material the combination comprising a heat retaining housing, a heat source for maintaining the temperature of the interior of said housing above thev melting point of the material to be dispensed, a vessel in said housing for holding material to be dispensed, delivery means in said housing for transferring the material from said vessel to the exterior of said housing including an inlet pipe extending into said vessel, a discharge pipe extending from within said housing to the exterior of said vessel and a pump interposed between said inlet and discharge pipe in fluid transferring relation thereto said pump having a body provided with substantially vertical mounting ways, an input shaft entering said body at a point between the run of said ways, a

motor having an output shaft and mounting lugs secured thereto spaced for interiitting vertical sliding engagement with the ways on said pump body to support and maintain the same against rotation and endwise displacement, vertical stop means secured to said motor positioned to maintain said pump body against downward movement at a level in which said motor output shaft and said pump input shaft are in substantial alignment, and coupling means mounted upon said shafts adapted to be engaged and disengaged by transverse vertical sliding movement when saidshafts are oriented in predetermined position, andan electric supply circuit connected to said motor to cause driving of the same.

ALFRED W. WICKESBERG.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 717,720 Schofield Jan. 6, 1903 1,171,797 Loud Feb. 15, 1916 1,309,237 Bausman July 8, 1919 1,376,348 Miller Apr. 26, 1921 1,773,130 Denniston Aug. 19, 1930 1,902,915 Starkey Mar. 28, 1933 1,929,231 Yirava Oct. 3, 1933 1,930,294 Valentine Oct. 10, 1933 2,115,969 Truesdell May 3, 1938 2,134,088 Obdyke Oct. 25, 1938 2,273,214 McConaghy Feb. 17, 1942 2,298,920 Barks et al. Oct. 13, 1942 2,382,539 Brady, Jr. Aug. 14, 1945 2;497,390 McNairy Aug. 16, 1949 2,504,433 Marvel Apr. 18, 1950 2,554,802 Waas May 29, 1951 A FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 478,152 VFrance Nov. 26, 1915 

